Henry Ruggs is currently serving a 3-to-10-year prison sentence for a high-speed DUI crash in 2021 that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog, and the former Raiders wide receiver was unanimously denied parole early this month.
There have been rumors that a few NFL teams might be willing to give Ruggs a second chance when (and if) he is eligible to play again, but it now appears the soonest Ruggs can be released from prison is August of 2027, which will be his mandatory parole release date.
Not a lot is known about why the parole board denied Ruggs’ request, but a report this week from News Nation’s Vanessa Murphy offered a few hints.
Based on the information that has been made public, t sounds like Ruggs broke a transportation rule in or around October of 2025 that didn’t boost his chances of early parole.
“In its order denying parole, the board recommended for Ruggs to not engage in disciplinary misconduct, and to participate in victim empathy programming. The board also noted mitigating factors for Ruggs, including community and/or family support, participating in programs specific to addressing the behavior that led to his incarceration, and no prior criminal history.
It is noted that Ruggs is considered ‘low risk,’ while his offense severity is “high” in a parole risk assessment and guideline. A recommendation of parole at the first or second hearing is noted. The second hearing is expected to be held in a year. Commissioners Lamicia Bailey, Sandy Schmitt, Eric Christiansen, and Sue Fahimi ratified the decision to deny parole for Ruggs, according to the order. The board held the first hearing on May 11, which loved ones of Tintor attended.
Ruggs expressed remorse. He earned a college degree during his time in the Nevada Department of Corrections, completed a DUI course, and said he has given other inmates cardio classes. He receives counseling,and previously enrolled in a month-long mental health facility in Long Beach, California, he said. Commissioner Sandy Schmitt noted that Ruggs broke a rule, only described as “non-compliance with travel arrangements,” last October. Ruggs responded that trying to make himself comfortable was not the best decision.”
In 2021, Mark Davis said the Raiders are not going to “abandon” Ruggs
Looking ahead, Ruggs will almost certainly try to make a return to the NFL, and he said last year he would be open to playing for the Raiders again.
For their part, it doesn’t sound the Raiders have any plans of circling back to Ruggs, but it’s worth noting that owner Mark Davis said the organization wouldn’t abandon their former first-round pick.
“Henry Ruggs is still a human being and Raider alumni and somebody that we want to help,” Raiders’ owner Mark Davis told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in November of 2021. “We’ll be there for him… [we’re] not going to abandon him. He’s part of our family.”
x: @raidersbeat